Until the end of time.

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Life, as we understand it, has a finite number of days in it.  Some are blessed with many years, while others have left this existence far too soon.  No matter where one falls on the spectrum of life spans, there is one thing for certain:  living life to the fullest until the end of time, our time, is what counts.

In my many travels I have observed people who live with one foot in the grave.  They seem to only survive, going from one day to the next with no real agenda, no real plan, and zero zest for living.  To these people living is getting up each morning with no real desire to do much of anything.  This lack of motivation may be because of the effects of a life full to struggle, full of negative thoughts, and empty of any meaningful purpose.  The saddest part of all of this is that purpose is something we all have, yet many will never discover it, therefore only living life as a shadow of what could be.

We should all live life to the absolute fullest until we take our final breath.  How many things, looking back on your life, would you like to change or do over?  I dare say there is no one walking this planet who has not experienced a missed opportunity.  Most everyone I know has some regret, some of which are big and others quite small, but regrets none-the-less.  Do you want to go through life with only regrets, or do you want to take life on and give it everything you have? Certainly there is always the possibility of failure, but I will tell you that failure is only assured when you simply don't try, or when you give up.  Up until such time as you quit, success is always a possibility.

I know first hand how life's struggles can dampen any dream or vision.  I also know first hand what it feels like to just want to quit and toss in the towel.  There is however something in each of us that wants to push us farther, deeper, and harder to reach that place we know is for us.  The pull of your destiny is what should keep you moving forward until the end of time.  Destiny can't be stopped because of a simple failure earlier on in life.  Destiny cannot be stopped because someone spoke an unkind word to you, or decided that your dreams were crazy or not of value.  Those who speak negatively about destiny probably have zero idea of what their destiny is.  If these people are talking ill of you, simply ignore the words, shower them with love, but leave them behind.  Be kind to them of course, but let them walk their own path.  A path mind you, that will come around again, and again, to their own destiny, whether they want to believe it or not.

Time will eventually run out for each of us.  Death is a certainty, and no matter what you might hope for, immortality in this current life form, is not possible.  We have an eternal spirit yes... but currently it is housed in a mortal body.  Nothing is going to change that.  That being said, what we do have the ability to do is utilize this body to the best of our ability to get us to our destiny, therefore accomplishing those things in this life that we were intended to accomplish.

If you want purpose in your life, and you want it to last a lifetime, then begin opening up to the real possibility that you have a destiny, and damn it, determine that you're going to walk in it.  I know people who are driven to success.  Now their motivation for being this driven is entirely up to them.  There are some who need it because they need the acclaim that comes with success.  Others desire success in order to do for others.  No matter what your motivation is, you have to want it, and then go after it.

The greatest regret in life is never having discovered what your purpose for living is.  Trust me, walking away from your destiny will eat you up inside.  That feeling of "is this as good as it gets" will eat away at you, and eat away at you until you go stark raving mad.  Is that the way you want to go through life?

When individuals finally take that first step toward their destiny, there is a weight that is lifted off of them.  Life takes on a whole new meaning, and what seemed impossible before turns into a whole new list of possibilities.  When one begins their journey of discovery many of the past burdens they carried seem to slip off of them, and then the journey is much less burdensome.  That's not to say there will no longer be any further challenges, but you will have the determination to get past the challenges, and go after those things that really define you.

Until the end of time we need to walk in our destiny.  When you can do this, then time no longer will dictate what you do, or how you do it.  Time will no longer be your enemy, and those things that have laid dormant in the deepest part of your being will begin to surface and then your life will change forever.  Life is indeed a journey of discovery, so why not get out there and start discovering what life has in store for you.  I promise you, what you learn will be what you need, and what you need will always be available to you.

Let's hear it for life, Hip Hip Hooray!

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It's the end of the week and it's time to take a few days off to relax, recharge, and otherwise forget about what has to be done, and just do something fun.  Isn't that what the weekends are for?  What would you say if I told you that every day could be like a weekend?  What would you say if I told you that life should be a perpetual weekend, with exciting things to do, places to go, and finding that time for relaxing, recharging, and otherwise just enjoying life to the max?

Sadly, there are a bunch of people who haven't experienced this in quite some time.  Even worse, there are people today who can't imagine a life void of the complexities they have found themselves in.  It seems that life is one crisis after another, and each day brings bigger and bigger concerns and problems.  They get to the point where they simply throw up their arms and quit.  Well if you have felt this way, then today is your day.  There is a way to change all of the past turmoil and turn things around.

The first step is to be completely honest with yourself and determine how you see things.  Are you "the Glass is half empty" or "the glass is half full" type of person?  There is no right or wrong answer to this question.  What is wrong is when one is unable or unwilling to make the distinction between the two options.  Life is not something you simply have no control over.  Truth be told you have total control over the things that go on in your life.  The real issue is that most people don't believe this.  They feel as though that life will throw at them anything it wants to throw, and they simply need to react to it.   Hogwash!

We create almost everything we ever experience.  It begins with our thoughts, our feelings, our beliefs.  If you feel as though that you will always be behind the power curve, always a little late to the party, and always the one left holding the bag, then I will tell you that you can, and probably will, have this creation of yours.  My question obviously is, why would you put yourself in these situations?  The obvious answer is that most people don't realize that they are the creator of their reality, and that what goes around comes around.  I've said this so many times in the past, we were never intended to walk around in lack, in sickness, or in constant need of something.  Man has conditioned us to believe these things, but I assure you, your creator never intended for you to be this way.  If you can't believe that you are worthy of all manner of good in your life, then sadly you will never have to worry about obtaining all the good things that life has for you.

I have been there before, always feeling like I never could quite get to the place I wanted to be.  I would work, and work, and work, and still no promotion.  It always seemed like someone was hell bent on keeping me down, never willing to give me the chance or opportunity to prove that I was good enough for this position, or that job.  I could never quite figure out why I was always on the loosing end of things.  It wasn't until I began to look at me that I was able to put two and two together and come up with four.  I had always thought that I was being punished for all the sins of my past.  Once again I was allowing the conditioning of man to set my beliefs.  Face it, we've all done things in the past that we aren't necessarily proud of, but these things of the past are not being held over your head as some sort of ransom.  We hold on to them, I can assure you that the Creator of the Universe, does not spend time holding on to things that mean nothing.  I would recommend that you adopt this posture as well and simply let things go.

You are worthy of every good thing in life.  This hasn't come about because you have done everything right in your life.  It hasn't been promised to you because you went to the right school, or you picked one profession over another.  Good in life comes to you because you were created for this life, and there is nothing that you should be lacking in.  This is truly the first step in you having a weekend every day of your life.  When you can see your worthiness, when you can realize the perfection of you, then you can begin to walk in the abundance that is yours, the health that is yours, and the enlightenment that is yours.

There shouldn't be a day that goes by that you aren't thankful for being alive right now.  This is your appointed time.  You are not here by mistake.  When you can grasp the divine nature of your being, when you can accept the fact that you are unique and special, then and only then will you begin to live the life that you were placed here to live.  I love what I do, I love who I am.  You deserve to be this way as well, and once you come to this realization, you will be enjoying every day of your life and everyday can be like a weekend.  I get up on Monday with a smile on my face because I know I get to experience my week ahead.  I get to write, I get to talk to others about destiny.  This is what I was created for, and you were created to do something as well.

It's time to say Hip Hip Hooray for life, and mean it.  Let's share the joy of living with others and watch as your life changes before your very eyes.  Life is worth living, and the more living you do the more you will smile, and that smile of yours will transfer to others around you, and then the cycle will continue.  It's the weekend, and that can only mean one thing, let the good times roll.

Show love, always show love.

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How easy it becomes to turn your back on those in need.  How easy to walk away from a bad situation that is being faced by someone else and simply exclaim "it's their issue."  How easy to just do nothing, when in reality something should really be done.  Most of us have been in situations where we had to decide: do we get involved or do we simply slip into the darkness and withdraw without as much as a peep.

I love loving on people.  I love helping others.  I love extending love to the loveless.  This doesn't make me better then anyone else, it just makes me who I am.  I attempt to show love in every situation.  Do I always succeed?  Absolutely not!  I fail at showing love all the time.  It's not that I want to, but obviously there is something in me that still needs fixin'.  But just because I might fail at this once in a while, doesn't mean I give up for a lifetime.

Showing love to those who need it is not always convenient.  Face it, trouble finds people all the time, at different times, and where there is trouble, there is also a need for love.  Extending that love to someone in need can change a life forever.  Extending love to others will definitely change your life, and change it for the better.  Love is the greatest gift you could give to anyone, and when you give love, guess what?  Love comes back to you.  It may not come back in the same form, but it will come back, and it will come back in a measure much more then what you showed in the first place.  The law of sowing and reaping is as present when one deals with love, as it does for anything else we do.

Why do I spend so much time writing about love?  I have seen the results in the lives of people who have been without love most of their life.  I have seen the voids that exist, an absence of joy, peace, and happiness.  I have also seen love turn situations around, when others thought it impossible to turn around.  I have seen love tear down barriers that seemed like they would remain for eternity.  I have seen love bring others back to life, or at least a life worth living.   A life void of love is like walking around in a zombie like state, with no hope for a real life.  Now I know that may seem pretty theatrical, but the point has to be made that everyone needs love, whether they want to admit it or not.  Since everyone needs love, then everyone should be displaying love in all that they do. Now love is not just physical in nature.  A loving smile can change the day for someone who just lost something important to them.  A simple note of support to a friend, just telling them what they mean to you.  Love can take many forms, but it always brings about wonderful results.

Is it hard to display love?  For most people it comes easy, however over time, if not used or displayed, it can dry up and then when you need it, your own tank is empty.  As children we understand love.  Children haven't be jaded by life.  Babies smile and laugh at just about anything.  Children lovingly jump into mom and dad's arms, just because they're mom and dad.  It isn't until later in life, when life becomes more difficult, that children, now adults, forgot how to love.

Here's how I look at things.  It doesn't take a lot of extra effort to display love in all you do.  When someone has done something that angers you, find something to love about them.  Now I can feel the emotional sneers coming at me after that last statement, but it is true.  If you can find something to love in someone who has just done you wrong, I can assure you that the wrong will have little or no effect on you.

Love is so simple to display.  It doesn't have to be grandiose to have an affect on someone.  Sometimes it's the little things that mean the very most.  When you are able to share love with someone, show love to someone, then you have undoubtedly gotten to the point in your own life where you love you.  There are so many people out there who don't love who they are, let alone like who they are.  If you can't love you, then it will be difficult, if not impossible, to display love to others around you.  Love truly is the cord that binds everything together.  In life, love is what cements any relationship together.  There might be thousands of miles that separate those we love, but the miles will never keep the love from being right there in moments notice.

Try a little experiment today and simply display love to those you come in contact with.  Those who are on the receiving end of your generosity might not even pick up on it, but you will know that you have given them a great gift, and in return, love will come back to you.  Love is so simple and yet many have made it more complex then it needs to be.  Keep it simple, be sincere, and watch as those around you change.  If you can bring a smile to someone's face then you have showered them with love, and sometimes that's all it takes to turn their life around.

Show some love people, simply show some love.  The world needs it, you need it, and that pretty much settles it.  Have a great day and smile.  Someone out there loves you, and they want you to know that.

You know it's time to let something go, when it's almost impossible to let it go.

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This is one of those "Physician heal thyself" moments.  They don't come up that often, but when they do, I feel it best to put it out there and let each of you know that I am just as human as the rest of you.  I to have to deal with things that I would love to bury and never see again.  I've learned that simply trying to bury something is never going to make it go away, and if you ever want to gain victory in a particular area, then releasing it is your only real course of action.

My former editor and I would go toe to toe about my writing at times.  She was of the opinion that my books should rarely speak directly about me.  I use a lot of self-deprecating humor in my writing, not because I don't love me, but rather to show my readers that I am just as prone to doing stupid things as anyone else.  Said former editor would comment that the books are supposed to be uplifting and that people are not going to buy them if all I do is talk about me.  I agree she has a fair point, but that would mean that the majority of my books would be autobiographical and that thankfully is not the truth.  I just want those who enter into my world to understand my world.  Hence, you will sometimes get to hear of my mistakes and screw ups and maybe by hearing about them, it will ensure that you won't follow in my foot steps.

Letting go of something never seems to be easy.  Be it a past love, a missed opportunity, a foul up that  sent your head spinning; letting go is sometimes the hardest thing you will ever have to contend with.  If there was a tote board showing all of my foul ups, all of my missed opportunities, or all my past unrequited love, I dare say the number would be staggering.  We all have to deal with issues, but dealing with them is a far cry from simply walking away and pretending they don't exist.  Walking away and playing make believe is never going to solve anything, and if you are anything like me, solving issues should be number one on your to-do list.

When was the last time you had a really good cry?  I mean one of those cries where you had no more tears left in you?  If you can think back on it, did you feel better after, or was it simply an unconscious act of will?  Sometimes we cry and we don't even know why we're doing it.  The body is a magnificent machine.  It knows when you need to let go of things, and it will tell you when the time is right to let go of those things that no longer serve you.  Letting go of things that no longer serve is difficult, at least for most people.  The reason for the difficulty is because we desire for something so strongly, we can hardly express what our life would be like without it.  This is why letting go is so incredibly difficult at times, but even through the difficulty, you need to let it go.

Dodinsky, the author of the NY Times bestselling book, IN THE GARDEN OF THOUGHT, says it best, "Let your tears flow and where they go, let your sorrows follow."  Holding on to sorrow is not letting go or releasing those things that bind us up.  Holding on to sorrow is forcing you to relive the event day in and day out, and that is never going to bring you healing.  Trust me when I tell you I have had to learn this lesson the hard way.  I have held on to things so tight, it was like a pneumatic vice grip.  I thought that as long as I held on, there was always a small glimmer of hope that I would one day have the one thing I wanted most.  As much as I wanted this one thing, I had to finally question whether or not this one thing was really of service to me.  Was it something that was going to add to my life, or would it continue to drag me down?  No one has the ability to answer that last question except you.  You know what has been holding you back.  You may not want to openly admit it, but deep down you know what serves you and what doesn't.  As hard as it might seem to do, releasing the sorrow is of such importance I don't have words enough to tell you the importance of it.

As I said earlier, the main reason most people are unable to let go of certain things is because they so desperately want something that the thought of never being able to have it scares them to death.  In reality, if you are able to release it, then you are making room for the real thing to come into your life.  If you ever want the real thing, then those counterfeits that you have been holding on to have to depart.  There really is no other way.

Very few people ever proclaimed that letting go was easy, but they will admit that it was necessary, and once they were able to set it free what they really needed showed up very quickly.  Making room for the good things in life means having to toss out the bad.  I'm not saying that certain people are bad.  What I'm saying is that certain people may not be good for you.  Yes you might love them, but if you really loved them and they loved you, we certainly would not be having this discussion.  I'm not saying that certain jobs might not be perfect for you, but if they were really perfect, then why aren't you working in that particular area?  We try to justify certain things, when there is no real justification.  Please hear me:  you heart knows what serves you best, and if you can follow your heart then you will have the strength to release those things that no longer serve you.  It may be tough, but it will certainly be worth it in the long run.  I know you can do it, because I have had to do it.  Yes I may have been screaming and yelling the entire way, but I survived it and so shall you.  Remember, you have a destiny, and that destiny should be the priority.  Do what is right, do what is sometimes hard, but please do it.  Your future is waiting for you as soon as you are able to drop the past.

This to shall pass, but only when it's supposed to.

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Isn't it great that things change from time to time?  I mean who wants to be trapped in the same thing your entire life.  Now there are times when we hope that situations pass more quickly, but only because we find ourselves in situations we would rather not be in.  Then we have those times that we could indeed spend a lifetime in.  Maybe it's a romantic trip with your soul mate, or that magical wedding day where you know you have created a bond with someone that will never be broken.  Whatever the case, time has a way of either working with you or against you.  That's if you really believe in time.  We live in time, but it is time within the constraints of what man says time is all about.  The twenty-four hours of a day, the sixty minutes in an hour, and the seconds in a minute.  We live within these confines each day of our life.  The question I have for you today is: do we really need to live within these self imposed parameters?

Every period of our life is set to perfection whether you believe it, feel it, or even recognize it.  Things happen for a reason, and they happen when they need to happen.  We can't always understand why things happen the way they do, but there needs to be an acceptance on your part.  Maybe, just maybe, instead of always waiting for something to come to a conclusion, how about just letting things happen?  If you believe that things happen for a reason, then why are people always trying to get things to end before the appointed time?  I hear time and time again that,"this to shall pass".  Well maybe it will, and maybe it plans on hanging on for just a while longer as there are things that have to transpire in the perfection of the Creator's plan for your life.

I have no more idea of what is going to happen in your life, then I do my own life.  I can live in the moment, but I can't with any certainty tell you what is going to take place tomorrow.  I would like to think that things will continue on the path I am on right now, but as a good friend of mine always says, "hard tellin not knowin".  I have learned to roll with the punches so to speak and to just be open to whatever the universe decides to offer up at me.

We live in a society where everything needs to be planned out.  There are people who have virtually every second of every day planned out or spoken for.  There is no room for spontaneity, and if it isn't on your calendar then it just isn't going to happen.  Now I am all for being organized and following a schedule, but when that schedule has you boxed in, well then, maybe it's time to look at things a little differently.  If you are currently going through a phase then sit back, learn what needs to be learned, but by all means don't try to force the issue.  Learning takes time.  Change takes time.  Development and enlightenment, they both take time.  Those things we go through are all brought to us in the hopes that we learn, we change, we develop, and we become more enlightened.  Why in the name of all that is holy would you want to circumvent that process?  I mean if getting you to the place you need to be in is so important, why in the world would you want to do anything that would jeopardize you being able to become the person you were created to be?

When you are contemplating trying to outrun the things in life, maybe you should place a huge "Do Not Pass" sign on your path.  This "Do Not Pass" is not there to keep you bound up, it is there to keep you in the place where learning can take place, where change can develop, and where you can feel safe that things are happening as they need to happen.  The reason we try to escape things is simply because we can't understand why things are happening the way they are happening, or because we simply do not want to be involved with what we are going through.  Either way, I recommend you take a look at the situation and realize that you need to be where you're at.  Stop trying to outrun those things that present themselves to you, and instead grab hold of them and use this time as a learning opportunity.  Find the joy in what you are going through, and in that joy will come a freedom to simply let go.

Letting go of fear, doubt, and just taking a breath now and then will do more to calm situations then you could ever imagine.  There are times when we can't explain why things are going the way they are going.  We wonder if we have done something wrong, or if there was something we could have done differently to change a perceived outcome.   Once again I encourage you to just let go of these thoughts and allow yourself to be in the moment.

There is nothing that happens that isn't supposed to happen.  Good, bad, or indifferent, we have a chance to move past things, but only after we have gained the insight each situation was intended to bring us.  Don't make the mistake that so many people make and look at things as though everything is bad.  Thinking or feeling that everything is always negative is what the world wants, but it isn't what the intention was.  Learning from calamity is still learning.  Growing from struggles is still growth, and evolving from having been through a trying time is still evolving.  Accept that life can be challenging, but in these challenges you are able to grow and become the person who will achieve the dreams you have, and ultimately discover and walk in your destiny.

Things will pass, but only when they are supposed to, and when you can see this, then time will no longer be your ruler, but you in fact will begin to rule time.  Think about that for a minute and see if you don't begin to feel just a little bit better about things.  

Taking the road less traveled.

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The reason the road less traveled is less traveled on is because it's not always convenient, it certainly isn't easier, and most of the time people choose to alter their path because they don't want to content with the obstacles of life.  It's often easier to turn a blind eye to things verses facing them head on.

Today I want to encourage you to take whatever is standing in your way and just ignore it and press forward on the road that has been laid out before you.  It has been said that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.  That being said I have observed so many people, myself included, do anything but take or make a bee line to the things we want most in life.  Well today is your lucky day because we are going to look at ways to straighten out your path, and place you on a course to obtain the things you want most in life.

I think we are in a time when many are just discouraged.  They really can't stand what they are currently doing, but so many are at odds with what to do.  Do you stay in a job you hate, or do you make the decision that you are going to change things up, plot a different course, and finally do what is in your heart of hearts to do?  Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of no security blanket under you, is the road block that so many contend with.  I get that.  I have allowed fear to dictate my actions in the past.  I let my own insecurities dictate my action, or in some cases inaction.  The starting point for getting out of this trap is to realize, and for many of you this may be the first time you have done it, but realize that you are worthy of having the desires of your heart.  These desires were not placed in you simply to tease you throughout your life.  These desires were not placed in you so you could go through life always wanting something but never feeling as though they were yours to have.  These desires are there because they are your destiny, and your destiny has a specific path that needs to be taken to get you to the point where life is full of peace, joy, happiness, and love.

Your path or road to your destiny has always been wide open.  Your past, although formative yes, is not something that should stop you from walking down the right path.  We all make mistakes, and we have to know that we should overlook other's mistakes if we want to make sure our mistakes are overlooked as well.  When you hold on to the past, you are not able to enter into today, which of course means you will never be able to look at the future with anything other then fear, trepidation, or doubt.  The road less traveled doesn't understand fear, trepidation, or doubt.  The road less traveled is lined with possibility, opportunity, and unlimited amounts of peace, joy, happiness, and of course love.  When you are walking in your destiny then there is hardly a day that goes by that you are not able to share the joy in your life with others.  You are moved to spread peace.  You are focused on sharing the love for your life and the life of others, and when you can do this, you will change the road that others are walking on.

So here's where the rubber hits the road.  First, forget about all the tragedies of the past.  You can't change them.  Hopefully you have learned from them, but it's time to unload old baggage and lighten your load.  Second, stop beating yourself up for any misstep you may have made and realize that any movement at all is better then no movement at all.  Thirdly, start loving yourself.  If you are unable to love who you are, accept everything about you, then how can you expect others to see the beauty of your existence?  You have more to offer the world then you might think, but you have to take the first step and accepting the gifting that resides in you is a great first step.  Fourth, cut the root of fear that has stopped you in your tracks.  Fear is nothing more then an inability to recognize your own greatness.  This comes about because we have listened to those around us, and we have bought into their own misery, and we think we have to join them in that misery.  Fear is the ego's way of keeping you cemented in inaction.  Inaction is what will kill a vision or dream, and life without visions or dreams is not a life worth living.

The road less traveled is just waiting for you to step foot on it.  It is paved with everything you could ever want in respects to a life full of beauty, full of promise, and full of stories of overcoming all that tried to stop you.

So what road will you decide to take?  You can continue on a path that leads nowhere, or you can alter your course and see life from a whole new perspective.  This new perspective is going to show you just what life can be like or should be like: joyous rapture, unfiltered love, and cheerful expectation of what lies ahead of you.  There is no fear of the future, only anticipation of the next great journey.  A journey that will bring you closer to your destiny, a journey that will keep you smiling, shower you with love, and let you know just how incredible you really are.  Take that first step onto the road less traveled, and see if your panorama changes to what you always hoped it would be like.  A bid you safe travels and I look forward to meeting up with you when our paths cross.

To your own self be true.

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Bullying has become of problem of epidemic proportion.  It is present in our schools, our neighborhoods, and in the work place.  It is perpetuated by the young, the old, the rich, the poor, and in my estimation the ignorant.  You see, bullying is a learned behavior.  It is not something that comes naturally to humans, as the natural emotional state of humans should be love and understanding.  Bullying is almost always a mask for a much deeper problem amongst those who display this behavior.  That problem is a loss of personal control, a lack of self-esteem, and a lack of self-love.

Why is self-love so important?  Without it, you will never be able to be the person you were intended to be, nor will you be able to accomplish those things you were intended to accomplish in this life.  As Eckhart Tolle says, "Power over others is weakness disguised as strength."  Bullies might think they have everything, but in actuality they have very little. Bullies attempt to steal from others, stealing their self-respect, their self-esteem, and in many cases their self-love.  If one is going to stand up against a bully then they are going to have to know who they are, what they are, and in almost every case allow themselves to be true to who they are.

So that being said, the next logical question is:  how do I remain true to myself?  How do I begin to love who I am, especially when so many things seem to be against me?  How do I look past the surface and discover those things that are deep within?  These are all great questions and the answers, although at times difficult to comprehend, will become real to you if you will simply open up to your true self.

So what is your true self?  Well first let me tell you what it isn't.  It isn't what others may say or think about you.  The picture that others may paint of you is often very misleading because they have no idea what you have been placed here to do in this life, nor what you may have gone through in life.  People often form opinions of others based on information that has been obtained from every other outlet accept from the source itself.  People hear things and it becomes edged in stone.  Foolish yes, but it happens all to often.  Your true self is a magnificent being, capable of all types of splendid feats, and able to feel and comprehend the greatness that resides inside of you.

I have tried to be someone I'm not, only to have it blow up in my face.  I've tried to fit in, when all I wanted to do was escape the nonsense of the day because I simply knew I was not being me.  I have allowed myself in the past to morph into something that I was not, simply to feel better about myself. All that did was make me feel worse because I knew I was not being true to myself. When you are not able to be true to self, then it is almost impossible to love yourself, and if you are lacking in self-love, then you will never be able to accomplish those things that you hold most dear.

My dear friends it all starts by recognizing that you were a product of love, and in that love you have been given a great gift.  The gift of being able to walk in your destiny, and change the direction or the course of events, to make this world a better place.  It doesn't matter if your destiny only affects one person, or a whole country.  The point is your destiny is what you were created for, and only you can fulfill it.  If you were not loved by the Creator, why would you be here right now?  If you were not sheer perfection how could you be here right now?  If you were never meant to be, then explain to me why you are present, and why do you have this feeling that there is more to life then what others have lead on to?  I cannot fulfill your destiny, just as you cannot fulfill mine.  That being said, we can both be instrumental in seeing that each of us fulfills our own destiny.

You never have to measure up to anyone else's expectations.  The only thing you have to measure up to is your willingness to accept who you are, what you are, and what you were placed here to do.  The only thing you have to do is be the real you, the authentic you, the unique you.

Self-love is so misunderstood, because most people have a warped view of love in the first place.  Self-love is just accepting that you one of a kind.  No one was ever intended to fill your shoes, or do the things you are supposed to do.  Self-love is not conceit, it is not false humility, and it certainly is not pride.  Prideful people, in my estimation, probably discount self-love.  They have enough on their plate trying to maintain a certain status, why would they bother to worry about their true essence anyway.  Pride says "I am good enough" but the good enough is measured against those things that really mean very little.  Things like money, status, home, position, those things that when all is said and done, you can't take with you when you're gone.  The "I'm good enough" needs to come from a place where good enough is based on your loving creator placing you here for a purpose.

Be true to your true calling, your true purpose, your true destiny.  If you can do this you will find that you are immune to many of the catastrophes that are happening all around you.  Be true to self, and self will love you back like nothing you could ever imagine, and once you love you for you, then there is nothing you can't do.

Rounding the corner, and taking it home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw7TApLlx3Y

You have been running the race.  At times you were out in front.  At times you were in the middle of the pack.  There were also those times when you kept back a bit to catch your wind and focus on the final push.  Now, you are approaching the home stretch and if I know you, you have kept a little left in your tank just for times like this.

Well the time has come for you to make the push, turn that corner and begin to take it to the finish line.  But before we break the finish line, lets take a look back on what it took you to get where you are at today.

Like any elite athlete, it takes many months, if not years of practice.  When others have left the training facility, the truly committed, dedicate ones, are the ones who are still looking to take one final lap, lift one last set of weights, do one more lap of the pool.  Elite athletes don't leave a whole lot to chance.  In fact, if there was ever a group of dedicated professionals who knew the importance of hard work, then athletes are one of them.

You might not be an athlete, but you never-the-less understand the importance of practice, and the need to be at the top of your game at all times, especially when faced with bringing it home.  Many of you have had months, if not years of practice.  You have been blessed with years and years of experiences which will come in handy.  You may not have always appreciated everything you were going through at the time, but I assure you that the day will come when all that you have gone through will pay off dividends.  There will come a time when you will sit back and wonder where did that idea come from.  Where did that ability to get through the tough times come from.  I will tell you that this ability is there because of what you have gone through in the past.  Good, bad, or indifferent, we go through situations to teach us, to prepare us, for what is about to face us as we round the turn, and head for home.

Hard work, but work that you love, dedication, and patience is what is going to prepare you for the home stretch and crossing that finish line.  If you want to be the victor then you have to be willing to do some of the things that others choose not to do.  You cannot wait for others to do the work for you.  Contrary to what many in society feel, no one owes you anything.  If it's worth having, then it has to be earned, and to earn it, you will have to make an effort.  Alas you will have those who have put out the effort, but the results are just not there, or where they want them to be.  Well this is where patience comes in.  We are all going to fall short from time to time.  Things will happen that we can't explain, and things will happen that we really don't want to repeat.  Getting back on the horse after you have fallen off is the only option you have, especially when things haven't gone according to plan.  The true winner in any situation is the one who never says never, and who is unwilling to give up on their dreams simply because some fool hearty person has said there is no merit in their dream.

History is laced with individuals who failed miserably at first, but in the end they were the ones with the winners wreath sitting atop of their head.  I can remember many years ago watching Dan Jansen, a United States Speed Skater.  He was in the Olympics one year, and at the time was the odds on favorite to take home the Gold Medal.  He uncharacteristically fell in several races, ending any hope of Gold.  This happened more times then not, to the point that at each Olympic event after that they would all talk about his previous falls.  Dan continued with his training, and during his forth Olympics took home the Gold in front of thousands who were there to cheer him on.  He could have quit after the first try, but his passion was showing through and he took it to the finish line.  This is the determination we have to display if we want to be where we want to be.

I wish I could tell you that victory will come to everyone the first time they put their hand to anything.  There will be those who are in fact fortunate enough to gain victory the first time, but that is rare.  Most everyone else is going to have to go through the ups and downs of any endeavor.  Character is what will bring you through those ups and downs, and a determination to never give up until you have reached the destiny that resides in you.  Here is one thing that you must remember: your passion is what will send you surging across the finish line.  Your passion is unstoppable, because passion is what drives, or should be driving everything that you do.  Find what you are passionate about and use it to your advantage.  There is no one who knows what you know in regards to what is in your heart to do.  If you are being laughed at by others because of what is in your heart, so be it.  They do not have to live your life, you do.  I will tell you that the ones who are laughing at you don't have a clue about your destiny, and I could pretty much bet, they don't even believe in destiny.

Remember, you have prepared for certain moments in your life, your entire life.  You may not be aware of all that you have done, but everything you have gone through, ever lesson you have learned, has prepared you for where you are right now.  It is time to make the push.  You are rounding that corner and all you should be focused on is heading toward home.  Win or loose, you have given it your best, and when all is said and done, giving your best makes you a winner.

Forget about what others think, what others say, and know that you have and will continue to do the work necessary to get you to the finish line.  The sweet smell of victory is everyone's hope, but it is only for those who will not quit.  I know you have that last burst in you, now go out there and show it to the rest of the world.



 

Seize the day!

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So what are you waiting for?  It's been day on top of day, one after another, and then another one after that, and still you are sitting on the one thing that would make you truly happy.  Let me guess, you're waiting for that engraved invitation, right?  Heaven knows it should be ready to be delivered to you on a silver platter.

OK, a bit dramatic I know, but there are some days when we need to be hit in the head with a bat to get us to wake up.  Now this is not meant to beat you up, not by a long shot.  Rather I want to encourage you today to take the next step, make a move, get going, and don't look back.  More often then not the only thing that is keeping you from achieving your dreams is you have yet to fully realize that dreams are there to help you achieve your destiny.

I have been one of the most guilty parties when it comes to sitting back and waiting for something to happen.  I have wasted countless days hoping against hope that something miraculous would come about, helping me to achieve the things I wanted to accomplish in this life.  Trust me when I tell you that if anything is ever going to get done in your life you are the one who is going to have to make the first move.  There will be others who will be there at your side helping you along the way, but that help will only come once you have made the determination that you are going to move forward in the things you hold most dear.

Someone once said that you don't wait for your ship to come in, you swim out to it.  You can make things happen, by doing something, anything.  Action, whether right or wrong is a starting point. We are going to make mistakes, we are human after all, so correct what ever mistakes might happen and continue on.  I have lived waiting for something to happen, only thing was, nothing was happening.  I still had visions and dreams, but I was never putting any action toward them.  I could see myself writing more, speaking more, traveling hundreds of thousands of miles, but the problem was I was just seeing it, I wasn't living it.  It took some very strong words from a dear friend to get me to see that I needed to do something if I ever wanted to manifest what I knew was my destiny.  Each of you will have to come to this same conclusion, and if you do, then you will do what I did and start putting action to your desires.

What is stopping you from taking the next step, or in some cases the first step, toward your destiny?  If it's fear, then I will tell you that you are in some pretty good company.  There are so many people who have had to overcome fear in order to do the things that they really wanted to do.  Most of the time the fear is based on things that you have no control over, or it is based on things that really aren't real.  Real or imagined, fear can stop you in your tracks, so lets see if we can't tame that fear once and for all.

Fear of failure I think is one of the biggest reasons people don't act on their dreams or visions.  They have seen failure in other family members, or friends, and they simply don't want any part of it. I get that, but I also know that someone else's failure is not anything you are responsible for.  If you aren't moving forward in your dreams because of what might happen, or what could happen, you might as well just stay in bed and never get out.  There is no way you could possibly know all the things that are going to happen to you in the future.  As I've said so many times before:  the past is past, the future is unknown, so live in the today.  Don't allow fear to dictate your actions or lack of action on your part.

A quote I use quite often in my writing says "I would rather attempt something great and fail, then attempt nothing at all and succeed."  Trust me if you do nothing, then I guess you don't have to worry about anything going wrong.  However, how long will you go on until your inaction will drive you nuts?  If you want to "Seize the Day" then you are going to have to move past the fear, move past the doubt, and move forward with your dreams.  I know there may be rocky patches ahead of you, but even walking down a rocky patch is preferable to just sitting around waiting for something to be dropped in your lap.

If you can take just the smallest of baby steps, I assure you that the next step will be easier, and each one after that will become more stable, more balanced, and then you will see that you are advancing toward your goals.  Rome was not built in a day, but it was build one piece at a time, and so to will your future be built one piece at a time.  Each step you take, every action you take, is going to get you closer to your destiny.

Carpe Diem, Carpe Diem, Carpe Diem!  The rest of the world is just waiting for you to make a move.  When you make a move you place in motion the rest of the universe, whose primary function by the way, is to provide you what you need, when you need it.  You are not in this journey alone.  You might like to think you are by yourself, but that is just foolish thought.  You have legions of Angelic Creations just waiting to assist you, if you will ask and if you will let them be there for you.

Think about what you hold most dear and ask yourself if you are ready to just let it go and never do anything about it.  If you want peace in your life then letting go of your dreams is not the way to get that peace.  Yes there may be some issues you have to deal with along the way, but achieving your dreams is one sure way of experiencing the happiness that is yours, and then peace becomes something this is yours at all times.  Seize the day my friends, seize the day.

Mama said there would be days like this!

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"Mama said there would be days like this, there would be days like this mama said"  Oh the wisdom of our mothers.  Now not everyone has, or had, the June Cleaver type of mom, and not every mother wanted to be June Cleaver.  But everyone of us have had those days when we wondered what happened, and pondered why those things happened to us.

As the photo in today's blog says, "There is no shortage of good days. It is good lives that are hard to come by."  Of course the question must be asked, what constitutes a good life, and more importantly, why are they hard to come by?  The answer is quite simple really, but you may not like the answer.

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe summed up life when he said this, "There are nine requisites for contended living: HEALTH enough to make work a pleasure; WEALTH enough to support your needs; STRENGTH enough to battle with difficulties and forsake them; GRACE enough to confess your sins and overcome them; PATIENCE enough to toil until some good is accomplished; CHARITY enough to see some good in your neighbor; LOVE enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others; FAITH enough to make real the things of God; HOPE enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future."  I guess that pretty much sums things up.  Of the nine requisites, which ones are present in your life each day and which ones seem to escape you?

Days don't often change.  There are always seven days a week, and within each day passes twenty-four hours.  There's not much we can do to change the physicality of the days of the week, nor the months of the year, so that pretty much leaves it up to us how we are going to handle each day.  Now you can sit back and lament like so many other people do about the unfairness of life and how you would like things to change for you, but in the absence of any effort on your part to embrace the requisites of Mr. Von Goethe, then I guess you are remanded to a life of lack, want, fear, and discouragement.  Is that what you want?

When I look at these nine requisites I see several that are mine by virtue of being alive right now, and knowing that Health, Wealth, and to a large extend Grace, are how we were intended to live.  The remaining six items are ones that we must choose to display in our life, and they are the ones that we will be forced to learn sooner or later.  Our education may come at the hands of circumstances or events that take place in our life, and these are moments to learn.

In any given day of your life can you pin point times when you have displayed patience, charity, love, faith, and hope to others?  If you were never exposed to these characteristics growing up, then they might not come easy to you.  However, each of us has within us the ability to walk in all of these, and I can assure you that a life that is filled with these traits makes for a much better life, and I can't think of anyone who would not desire that.

If you're having a real struggle of a day might I suggest that you extend joy and happiness to someone  else and that same joy and happiness will come back to you.  There is a spiritual law that says you will reap what you sow.  If all you can do is focus on those areas of life that seem to be lacking, then you are simply asking for more of the same. If on the other hand, you begin to display signs of grace, charity, patience, and love to those around you, then what do you think the result will be?  You will be the recipient of grace, charity, patience, and love, and if you're having a lousy day my guess is you could use all of these.

Good lives are only hard to come by because so many people are unwilling to invest in their own life.  They are waiting for others to do it for them, and quite frankly that is nothing more then walking around with an entitlement mentality, and that I can tell you is going to end up costing you more then you could ever imagine.  If you desire a good life then step up your game and do something that improves the life of someone else.  The gestures do not have to be grand and ornate.  A simple smile and a hello to a stranger walking down the street will bring a smile to your face.  When you sow joy and love what do you get, you get joy and love.  Whenever I talk to someone who is having a difficult time with things I always ask them what they have done for someone else.  The normal response is "nothing" because they are so focused on getting things in order in their own life.  Most people will readily admit that they spend far more time focused on them verses others around them.  Might I suggest you do just the opposite and see if things do not change in a hurry with your own life.

Having a good life is reciprocal in nature.  If you focus on the bad, more bad comes.  If you focus on the good, then good comes.  If you display grace and love to others, then when you need it, it will be there for you.  If you desire to have a life that is filled with the nine requisites that Mr. Von Goethe talks about then start displaying these traits to others.  I will tell you that the results will be amazing and you will look back and wonder why you never made these choices before now.  I want to share one final quote with you, and it is one I have used hundreds of times in the past.  John Wooden said, "You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you."  This is what is meant by displaying Charity and love to others.  Stop always doing to get, start doing because doing is the right thing.  If you focus is always on what's in it for me, I can assure you that there won't be much in it for you.  If you can give freely, from the abundance of your heart, then I will promise you the returns will be more then you could ever imagine.

Mama said there would be days like this, so go out there and make it a better day for someone else.  It will turn your life around, and then you will finally be able to hear the music.

scottekauffman.com

Taking that leap of faith.

There comes a time is everyone's life when you are going to have to decide do I take that leap of faith, or forever be trapped in the situation that you may find yourself in.  Now for some people they have been making these leaps their entire life, so there isn't much that scares them at this point.  To others, and by others I mean those who have never even looked over the cliff, gotten close to it, or even wanted to entertain the possibility of what would happen if they jumped, to those I say maybe it's time to change your perspective.

Certainly going off a cliff on a leap of faith has certain elements of fear and trepidation at first, but it's like the roller coaster: scares the ever living daylights out of you, but as soon as you get done with the ride, you're ready to go on it again.  Believe you me, I know what it's like to allow fear to stop you in your tracks.  The fear of failure or looking stupid in front of those who would like nothing more then for you to fail, is almost paralyzing.  But it's this fear that has to be put down, and the courage that is in you, that has always been in you, will come forth like a roaring lion, just waiting to jump.

Let me ask you this question:  if you don't take the leap of faith, what happens?  I mean, do you think that your dreams or your hopes are simply going to manifest out of the blue?  Certainly there is the possibility that it might happen that way, but I think you have a greater chance of pigs flying out your "arse" then things just happening perfectly without even as much as a little effort on your part.  I do not discount the miraculous in this world.  I think miracles happen each and every day, but what I'm talking about is the effort that we have to put forth in order to obtain those things we want most in life.  I've always said that if it's worth having, it's worth working for.

Taking a leap of faith is standing firm in what you believe, holding fast to what you hold most dear, and not allowing your dreams to be ripped away from you by the careless words of others who haven't a clue as to what is really important and what is not.  Taking a leap of faith is saying that you don't care if it doesn't work right the first time, there's always the second or maybe even the third attempt at it.  Taking that leap of faith is simply saying no to fear and knowing that no matter where things end up it's always going to be better then where they are right now.

When I set out to write my first book I didn't have a clue as to what I was getting myself into.  I knew I had a story in me, but getting it out on paper was something that I never thought possible.  I held the smallest of belief that I was doing what I was supposed to do, but I surely was not confident at the beginning.  Taking a leap of faith is not waiting until you have all the answers.  It's not waiting for everything to be perfect with not even a remote possibility of things going wrong.  Taking the leap of faith is saying that no matter what happens you are heading out on your journey and if things need to change midstream then change they will.

When you are looking out over that cliff all you see is what lies ahead of you, and nothing that is below.  It seems as though the things that are below are the things that worry us the most, those things that are unknown, or in this case, unseen.  When you base any decision on the "unseen" things in life you are making a huge mistake.  Often the things that are unseen never make themselves known, so you are actually stopping yourself from moving forward based on things that really are not real in the first place.  Just as an example take a look at free jumpers.  When they are getting ready to thrust themselves off the mountain all they see is the sky in front of them.  Imagine standing back, running, and then jumping off the cliff.  Certainly you begin to fall, but then the chute opens up, you begin to move with the drafts, and all that is below you turns into this beautiful landscape as you gracefully hover above it all.  Had you never made the jump then you would have missed an opportunity to view the beauty below you from a totally different perspective.

We have allowed our own fears to stop us before we ever begin.  We have allowed the unseen, the unknown, to stop us in our tracks instead of just jumping off the cliff and letting the destiny that resides inside of you to take you on the journey of a lifetime.  We can sit around and wait for the perfect time to strike out on our own, but how long will the wait be, and while you are waiting for that perfect time, what will you be missing?  I dare say that anyone who has accomplished something great in this life has had to make the decision to thrust themselves off the cliff, not knowing what is below them, but knowing that they will certainly come out of it alive and filled with a new enthusiasm for the things they want to accomplish in this life.

The time has come to make a decision.  You can sit around and wait for the perfect time, or you can pack up your chute, take a few steps back, and then launch yourself off that cliff into an adventure of a lifetime.  Yes it may be fearful at first, but fear does not control you for fear is not based on anything real, and your destiny is as real as it gets.

Take a leap of faith will you.  Know that good things await you if you will only put yourself out there and take what is yours.  The journey of life is indeed a journey of discovery, and once you discover what life has to offer you then I dare say that there will never be a cliff out there that will cause you any more fear.  It is time to jump, and when you do enjoy the ride that will follow.

Peace, love, joy and hope bring about happiness

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Now this isn't going to be about some sixties hippie love fest.  It seems that when ever someone from my generation talks about love, peace, and happiness one of the first things that comes to mind is the Age of Aquarius, drug induced, love ins that used to be common place amongst the carbon units of that day.

No, what I want to talk about is why being centered and holding peace, love, joy, and hope within your heart is really the only way you are going to experience true happiness in this life.  Just look around you at the people you come in contact with each day.  You can almost see it on their faces the lack of true happiness in their life.  The void of loving relationships seems to deepen their despair, while only fleeting glimpses of joy or hope ever seem to surface in their life.   Is it even a wonder why these people would never claim to be happy?

Peace:  knowing that no matter what situation you are in, it's the situation that you need to be in.  It's the kind of peace where you can take solace knowing that things are just as they need to be, in order for you to be the person you were intended to be.  How often do you find peace in the place you are in right now?  If there is no peace, then there can never be happiness.  Peace and happiness go hand in hand, so much so that a life void of peace can only lead to disappointment, discontent, and ultimately ruin.  You will find peace when you can accept that everything happens for a reason, and once you can accept this premise, then peace will follow you all the days of your life.

Love:  We all need it, we all covet it, and yet, we often don't even recognize it even when it stares us right in the face.  We like to formulate love in ways that we understand it, but if you don't have a basis for love, then how can you ever understand it?  There are so many forms of love, and yet if one form that appears is not in sync with our thoughts or beliefs about love, then we dismiss it and look elsewhere.  Can you find the love in the little things of life?  Can you step outside on a sunny spring morning and simply feel what nature is showing you and feel the love in it?  If you can't sense the love in the little things, then it really doesn't matter how big the clue is that comes to you.  Love was the basis for your creation, and because of this, love is one of the foundations of our existence.  If you want love, then sow love.  Give away your smile to a stranger on the street.   Give up your spot in line at the market to the one who seems to be in a hurry, and you have no particular place to be.  It's the little things in life we do to show love, which allows us to receive love back in measures untold.  The first step in having love in your life is to love yourself.  If you cannot accept that you are love and even more so, deserving of love, then love could be waiting for you on a silver platter and you would simply walk past it.  Love yourself first, and then love will find you no matter where you are.

Joy:  How often do we find the joy in what we are doing?  I find joy every time I sit down to write, or go out to speak.  I find joy in knowing that I am walking in my destiny.  I find joy in helping others discover their destiny.  What do you find joy in?  If joy is eluding you then you should ask yourself why?  Why does everyone else seem to be happy about things and yet you are walking around like you just lost your best friend?  Why do good things happen to bad people, and yet you still seem to be waiting for all the good to come to you?  If you are thinking these things then I can bet you all the money in the world that you lack joy, and if you lack joy, then you certainly are missing out on happiness.  Joy is finding a penny on the street as a reminder that abundance is just as much for you as anyone else.  Joy is looking up into the night sky, seeing a shooting star and realizing that the universe is vast and yet you are just as big a part of the universe as anyone else.  Joy is knowing that you were place here for a reason and that you have so much to offer to others.  Find this joy, and then happiness will be your constant companion no matter what happens.

Hope:  Oh yes, hope.  The hope for a better tomorrow.  The hope of knowing that even though times may have been rough, they were rough to teach us a very important lesson.  Hope says that no matter what happens, you will be in the place you need to be in, at the appointed time, and that everything works out in the end.  Hope is not distant, hope is not just for a select few, hope is what everyone has, but few have learned to harness the awesome power of hope.  Too many people have used hope and tried to turn it into something it is not.  Hope is not begging for a better tomorrow.  Hope is not wishing that things will turn around and suddenly everything will be all right.  Hope is nothing more then accepting the fact that you are where you need to be when you need to be there, living the life that was designed around you, for you.  Hope is indeed eternal, just as your spirit is eternal, which means it has always been, and will always be.  Hope knows nothing of lack, or fear, or even worry.  Fear and worry will destroy hope, and we must do all we can to not give ground to a worthless emotion that wants nothing more than for us to give up and walk away.  Hope is what allows us to always take the next step, even when we're not sure where we might be going.

Peace, love, joy, and hope are what we need to hold on to, and when you do, then and only then will you experience the happiness that was yours from the moment of your creation.  If you are lacking in anyone of these traits, fear not, it's never to late to accept them into your life.  There will be times when we are tried, and we loose our hold on our own peace, love, joy, and hope, but let's make sure that these are just fleeting moments, and nothing that becomes habitual.  Happiness is a by-product of things that should be in your life.  It is time to allow happiness back in, by holding on to what is yours, all the peace you can walk in, all the love your are capable of, joy that springs eternal, and hope for all that is good.  It is time to be happy again.

Spring, Spring, beautiful Spring.

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"Spring, Spring, beautiful Spring, all the birds are on the wing. Oh my how absurd, I thought the wings were on the bird."  I'm not sure where this little diddy came from, but I know I heard it many, many years ago growing up.  As we enter into the almost Springtime I am reminded of what we have just gone through with this tough Winter, and how we are looking forward to the change that comes each year at this time.

We all have changing seasons in our life.  Some are seasons we look forward to, and others we just strap down and hang on for the ride of our life.  I like the changing seasons during the year.  Each one brings new experiences, and no matter what the previous season was like, there is always something new to go through.  We were lulled into a false sense of security this past winter when December and January came around and we had very little snow, and the temps were not as bad as was predicted.  Then came February, and as they say, all bets were off on this one.  It was one of the worst February's on record, and we are thankful that it is over.  When you go through a personal season, what are your expectations and what are you thinking prior to, or even during a seasonal period of your life?

Spring brings with it newness.  Spring brings forth new life, and those things that had lay dormant during the cold winter months now come back alive, reminding us that no matter what we may have gone through, life comes back full cycle, with little or no effort on our part.

What will your spring look like this time around?  Have you forgotten to let go of the past to let the present come into it's fullness?  No matter what the winter was like, we all look forward to spring so we can dust off the winter doldrums and take in the beauty that surrounds us.  It's kind of funny when you think about it, but there isn't much that we have to do in regards to spring.  I mean, spring comes each year whether we want it or not.  Nature does what nature does, and there isn't much we can do to alter what is going to happen.  Certainly we would like to have a spring that is a little warmer, a little brighter, but warm or bright is nothing we have control over.  The seasons that we go through in our life are the same way.  We really have no control over when the seasons start or end, and most of the time we certainly don't have a lot of control over what happens to us during these changing seasons in our life.  What we can control is how we react to certain changes.  What is our mental focus, and how do we handle the changes that will come?

I personally try to embrace the different seasons of my life.  This isn't because I like some of the things that I have to go through, but I do know there is a reason for everything, and because of that I am accepting of all the changes that are going to come.  Why do people fight change in their lives?  I'm just like everyone else in that I don't always appreciate change while I am going through it, but after I have a chance to look at things and examine them, very rarely can I disagree with the changes that have taken place.  I might not like winters, but were it not for winter, then I certainly would not appreciate the springtime as much as I do.  Were it not for the changing seasons in our lives, how could one possibly appreciate the place they are currently in?  I know that we may not always appreciate what we have to go through, but when all the dust settles, aren't you normally in a far better place then when you started?

I look at my life, as it is today, and I am ever so grateful for the seasons of the past.  Had I not gone through the changes that were thrust upon me, I never would be in the place I am at right now, being honored to do the things I do today.  My winter lasted years and years, but now that my new spring is here I hope for a season that is lasting and full of new life.  I did not always believe I would get out of my long drawn out winter.  There were days when it seemed as though I would not make it.  What I forgot to do was remember that after each season comes change, and with each new season comes growth of some kind.  I have grown during each passing season, and you will grow as well if you will accept the changes, and accept the fact that we all have to go through our personal winters to get to our beautiful springs.

Spring, Spring, beautiful Spring.  We have much to look forward to in this new season.  There are ideas and dreams inside of you that are just waiting to spring forth.  Much like the buds of the tree in your yard are just waiting to spring forth, so too are the dreams you have protected inside of you.  This is the season you have been waiting for.  It is time to bring your dreams out from their slumber and into this world for others to benefit from.  The winter is coming to an end, and spring is just waiting for you to release your desires.

Just like the days are getting longer during spring time, so too will your days get longer as you step into your spring.  Do not give thought to the years you have already lived, rather be thankful for the days you have remaining.  You will have the time you need, to do the things you need to do.  The time has come to boldly step into the next season of your life, and watch as things grow up, as life becomes new again, and how perfectly one season rolls into the next.  I am there with you and together we will usher in a new season in our lives.

Red light, Green light.

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Take it from me, your tomorrows are nothing more then a continuation of your today's.  Now for some people this will make them very, very happy.  To others, they will want to just stay in bed and not have to face another day like yesterday.

Stop and go, stop and go.  Do I do it?  Do I not?  Is this the right thing?  Is this the wrong thing?  Turn left, turn right.  Oh the madness of it all, just stop the madness.

If you are on the perpetual merry-go-round where each day seems to bring the same old stuck in the mud kind of day, might I suggest you take to heart what I am about to share today and begin to change your tomorrows.  Now much of what I'm going to write today has been written about before, by me and countless other light workers, whose only desire is that you begin to experience the life you were always intended to experience.  That being said, maybe today is the day when the light bulb will finally go on, and you will have that "Ah Ha" moment, and things will change for you in a very powerful way.

First off, what you are living now is in direct correlation with the words and thoughts you had in the past.  Change your words and thoughts, and change your situation.  As easy as that sounds, it's not always as easy to implement, especially when you are in the midst of a shit storm.  But fear not, we will get you to the place where you understand the power of your words and thoughts, and thereby change your current situation for the better.

Have you ever wondered why you see people all around you who presumably have it all?  They are the catcher of all that is good.  They succeed with very little effort, and everything they touch seems to turn to gold.  What differentiates them from you?  Why have you always seemed to be on the short end of the stick?  I've been told so many times in the past that perception is reality.  I'm not sure I always believe that, especially when people use it only to further their own cause, but I will tackle that topic on another day.  What I would like you to see today is that most people who succeed at whatever they are attempting to do, do so because the thought of failure has never entered their mind.

When you go outside on a very cold day, like many of the ones we have experienced here in Maine this year, do you hope and pray that the car will start, or do you simply expect it to turn over when you turn the key?  When you place that chicken in the pre-heated over and pull it out one hour later, do you expect it to be cooked to perfection or do you expect it to be completely raw and uneatable?  Sounds like a dumb question but what do you expect?  Most everyone would say the chicken will be done and it's time to eat.  Why?  You expect it because that is the past experience you have had.  You have lived it before and see no reason to expect a different outcome.  OK, so let's take it to the next level.  You are going for a new job, have a very important interview, and you wonder how it's going to go.  Will you get the job, or will you be passed over for someone you know is the interviewer's nephew, and has the inside track?  What is your expectation right now?

I want it, I don't want it.  It's mine, it's not.  Red light, Green light, stop, start, stop, start. If you want something can you believe that it is yours?  If you can believe it is yours, can you act like it's yours?  If you can act like it's yours, then can you feel what it is like to have it, even if you don't have it at the moment?  People fail simply because they can't believe in their own success.  There is something that keeps them from believing that they deserve to have the same joy and excitement about life as the person down the street.

I've said it before and I'm going to continue to say it: you are a product of your own imagination, thoughts, and words.  What you have today or in some cases, don't have, is based on what you have said, thought, or felt in the past.  There is no other way for me to put it and I hope that you don't go screaming out of the room.  Your expectations of an eventual outcome is what is going to determine the outcome.  This constant starting and stopping is going to do nothing but get you pulled away from the place you are supposed to be at.

If you are in the place where you are yelling out, "Stop the madness", then understand that you are in the perfect place.  Not perfect because you are experiencing less then fun times, but perfect from the standpoint that you get to change things up for the better.  You will only remain in this crappy place if you want to, and I don't know many people who would choose to stay in a crappy place.

It's time to stop the "Stop and Go" game and really make the determination that it's only forward momentum from here on out.  See the forward movement, feel the forward movement, and accept the forward movement.  When you can do that, then nothing will stop you from your intended course in life and you accomplishing the things you were created to accomplish.